Christmas in Orlando? Why you should book now

You may think this is a funny subject to address now, just when the summer is about to start, but if you are thinking of going to Orlando for Christmas, now is the time to book.

Havn’t decided yet? Here are just a few of the reasons why you should go.

Christmas in Orlando and in particular all the theme parks is just magical. All the street decorations make the ones in Oxford Street, London look really lame. Christmas trees tower 30 feet in the air and all the stores are playing Christmas music. Also, unlike us they don’t start in September! so it is more exciting as the actual day is so near. They traditionally start on the weekend after Thanksgiving which is the last weekend in November. Places like Celebration even have snow falling at 6pm every night!

The stores sell an amazing array of Christmas decorations and greetings cards much cheaper than back in the UK. Also most of your general Christmas shopping will be cheaper too. Just don’t forget to pack an empty suitcase to take them all home. Even if you are not thinking of buying anything, just wandering round the stores with all the decorations, Christmas songs and the displays of all their festive goodies is quite an experience.

In the parks it is like wonderland. In Disney Hollywood studios they have a street which is lit with 1 billion lights. Everything is lit up – even the trash cans. The snow falls on the whole street and carols are played over the tannoy system. It feels like going back in time to when all the ladies wore crinolines – just like in the Christmas cards.

In Epcot, apart from the biggest Christmas tree I have ever seen, they have a mass choir and orchestra performing a Christmas Carol Concert and they tell the story of Christmas using a different well known personality to do the narration each day. They have about 3 of these every late afternoon and evening. After the main firework display at Epcot they have an extra Christmas display which last another 15 minutes.

The two parades in the Magic Kingdom turn into a more festive seasonal style for Christmas and some of the shows take on a Christmas theme, in particular, The Country Bears Jamboree goes festive with very funny results.

The weather is much more temperate at this time of year, so much easier to stroll around without the intense heat. The evenings and early mornings can be quite chilly, so light jackets will probably be needed but from around 10. 30am to 6pm it will be around 70degrees and pleasant enough for shorts and t-shirts. Over the actual Christmas holiday the parks will be very busy, but as not usually as busy as the peak time of Easter or August.

So hesitate no more, you are in for the thrill of a lifetime and the children will not believe how exciting they will find it all. They can even visit Father Christmas and his reindeer in his grotto in Downtown Disney.